Tractor loaders



Dec. 16, 1958 R. L. BEYERSTEDT TRACTOR LOADERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1957 DCC- 16, 1958 R. L. BEYERSTEDT 2,864,518

TRACTOR LoADERs Filed Jan. 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1958 R.1 .Br-;YERSTEDT TRACTOR LOADERS I5 Sheetssheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1957 CTOR LOADERS Ralph L. Bcyerstedt, Libertyville, Ill., assigner to The Frank G. Hough Co., a corporation of Illinois Application January 17, 1957, Serial No. 634,704

Claims. (Cl. 214-510) This invention rela-tes generally to front end type trac tor loaders and more specifically to novel bucket arrangements for front end type tractor loaders. i

As is well known in the art, front end type tractor loaders are generally comprised of a prime mover such as a rubber tired or crawler tractor, a bucket disposed forwardly of the tractor, and some boom means operatively interconnecting the bucket and the prime mover. Various means have been provided under the control of the operator of the loader, for operating the boom means to in turn control the various necessary operations of the bucket such as digging, carrying, dumping, bulldozing, spreading and backiilling of any material commonly worked by such a loader.

Tractor loaders, as now known in the art, are not capable of performing all of the noted functions with the desired o-r with lsubstantially equal efficiency. The most troublesome functions, which have resulted in decreased overall efliciency of power loaders, have been the functions of digging, dumping and bulldozng. The digging' function is often poorly performed when hard packed materials must be worked or when the machine is operating on slippery ground. Since these loaders are generally caused to dig by moving the tractor to move the bucket into the material, excessive clutch slippage results and tire wear is increased, due to slippage of the tires, when the friction between the ground and the traction means is reduced.v The dumping function is often poorly performed since when sticky materials are worked there is a tendency for the material to adhere to the inner walls of the bucket when the bucket is operated to a dump position. Further, the dumping height and reach is often considerably reduced when the bucket is pivoted about its lower rear portion to a dump position, as is comm-ouin the art. The function of bulldozing is often poorly performed since the buckets generally known in the art cannot be adjusted to present an ideal bulldozing blade surface to the material to be worked.

It is the object of this invention to provide a bucket arrangement for a front end type tractor loader which will efficiently perform all of the noted -functions including those with which dificulty has been experienced in the art.

It is ano-ther object of the present invention to provide a bucket arrangement for a front end type tractor loader which will not require movement of the tractor in performing the digging function.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bucket arrangement for a front end type tractor loader vwherein the dumping height is not reduced when the dumping function is performed but in which the dumping reach may be increased in performing the dumping function.

1t is a further object of the present invention to provide a construction for a front end type tractor loader ywherein simple control means are provided between the Ibucket and the tractor. l

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bucket construction for a front end type tractor loader States Patent wherein the bucket may be adjusted to present an ideal bulldozing blade surface to any material to be worked.

It is a further object of the present` invention to provide a bucket construction for a front end type tractor loader wherein the cutting edge of the bucket may be adjusted for digging at a substantially large number of diiferent angles to any material to be worked.

Other objects and features of the present invention will 'be apparent upon perusal of the following specification and drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor loader constructed according to the present invention with the bucket in one operated position;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the bucket shown in Figure l and taken' along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the bucket oper-ated to another position; and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show side elevational views of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the boom means operated to a raised position and with the bucket operated to three different positions.

I The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

For a detailed description of the present invention refer ence is made to the drawings. The tractor loader comprises a vehicle 10 of any type well-known in the art. The tractor lil comprises a frame 11 supported by wheels 12 and carrying a body 13. The body 13 comprises a rearwardly disposed engine compartment and a forwardly disposed operators compartment. Although the vehicle 10 shown in the drawings is a rubber-tired vehicle, a crawler type tractor may also be used.

A boom 14 formed in duplicate portions positioned on each side of the vehicle 10 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the body of the tractor 11i by means of pivotal mounting means 15. The other end of each portion of the boom 14`is disposed forwardly of the tractor 10 and is formed to have a substantially vertically downwardly extending portion. This provides that each portion of the boom 14 has a somewhat L-shape. The downwardlyl extending section of each portion of the boom 14 is concave looking toward the forward end of the tractor 1t), as can easily be seen in the drawings. A hydraulic ram 16 is provided on each side of the tractor 10 for raising and lowering the boom 14. The head end of each hydraulic ram 16 is pivotally mounted to the frame 11 of the tractor 161 by means of brackets 17 and pivotal mounting means 18. The brackets 17 are secured to the frame 11 and depend therefrom intermediate the ends ofthe frame 11. The rod end of each hydraulic ram 16 is pivotally mounted to one portion of the boom 14 intermediate the ends thereof by brackets 19 and pivotal mounting means 20. Each of the brackets 19 is secured to the lower edge of one portion of the boom 14 intermediate the ends thereof.' When the hydraulic rams 16 are substantially retracted, the boom is disposed in its lowermost position, as can be seen in the solid lines in Figure l. When the hydraulic rams 16 are substantially fully extended, the boom 14 is raised to its uppermost position, as shown in'the dotted lines in Figure 1. The boom position shown in Figure 3 corresponds with the solid line position shown in Figure l, and the boom positions shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 correspond tothe raised position of the boom 14 shown in the dotted lines in Figure 1. The boom 14 is further provided with a cylindrical brace 21 extending between each portion of the boom 14 forwardly of the tractor 10.

The bucket of the present invention, which is somewhat ymore complicated than the simple buckets well-known iu the art, comprises a generally U-shaped element or scoop 22 having a pair of spaced apart side walls 23 interconnectcd by a bottom wall 24. The side walls 23 are somewhat triangular in shape with the forward edge substantially straight and with `the rearward and bottom edges curved. The bottom wall 24 is formed of two' spaced apart elements or plates having a concave configuration, when viewed from above, along an axis longitudinally of the tractor 10. The bottom edge of the side walls 23 have a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of the bottom wall 24. The curvature of the bottom wall 24 is substantially the same as the curvature of the depending portions of the boom 14. A conventional cutting edge 25 is secured across the leading edge of the bottom wall 24 and extends a short distance upwardly along each side wall 23. The'bucket construction further comprises an ejector element or plate 26. The ejector plate 26 is pivotally mounted substantially at the upper marginal edge thereof to the upper marginal edges of and between the side walls 23 of the scoop element 22 by means of mounting means 27. A section 28 of the ejector plate 26 extends upwardlyabove the upper marginal edges of the side Walls 23 to aid in retaining material within the contines of the bucket. The major portion of the ejector plate 26 which is pivotal between the side walls 23 of the scoop element 22 is formed of a concave con figuration along a vertical axis when looking toward the front of the tractor 10. The curvature of that portion of the ejector plate 26 is substantially equal to the curvature of the depending sections of the boom 14 and the bottom wall 24. The ejector plate 26 is further formed to have a width substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 23. The upper element of the bottom wall 24 has a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of the ejector plate 26 when the ejector plate 26 is pivoted about mounting means 27 relative to the scoop 22. Thus it may be seen that in any pivotal action of the scoop 22 relative to the ejector plate 26, the ejector plate 26 will sweep the side and bottom walls of the scoop 22.

Two pairs of tlanges 29 are provided for supporting the bucket on the boom 14. Each pair of flanges 29 is mounted on the rear side of the ejector plate 26 substantially at the lower side marginal edges thereof, as can he seen in Figures l and 2. The pairs of flanges 29 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between each portion of the boom 14. The lower end of each depending section of each portion of the boom 14 is pivotally mounted between one pair of flanges 29 through pivotal mounting means 30. To provide for positive pivoting of the ejector plate 26 relative to the boom 14, a hydraulic ram 31 is provided. The hydraulic ram 31, which is double-acting, is pivotally mounted at the head end thereof about a shaft 32. The

shaft 32 is secured between a pair of flanges 33, and the flanges 33 are mounted on the cylindrical brace 21 of the boom 14. The rod end of the hydraulic ram `31 is pivotally mounted between a pair of flanges 34 through mounting means 35. The pair of flanges 34 are secured on the rear side of the ejector plate 26 some distance upwardly from the pivotal mounting of the boom 14 to the ejector plate. Thus it may be seen that as the hydraulic ram 31 is extended and retracted, the ejector plate 26 is pivoted relative to the boom 14 about the axis of the mounting means 30. When the hydraulic ram 31 is substantially fully retracted, the ejector plate 26'substantially engages the concave section of the boom 14, as can be seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4. When the hydraulic ram 31 is substantially fully extended, the ejector plate 26 is pivoted away from the concave sections of the boom 14 about pivotal mounting means 30 to positions such as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

To pivot the scoop 22 relative tothe ejector plate 26 and the boom. 14, a double acting hydraulic ram 37 is provided. The head end of the"hydraulic ram 37 `is pivotally mounted about the shaft 32 adjacent the hydraulc ram 31 and between the upstanding flanges 33. The hydraulic rams 31 and 37 are properly positioned between the flanges 33 by three cylindrical spacer elements 41, 42 and 43. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 37 is pivotally mounted between a pair of flanges 38 by means of a pin 39. The pair of flanges 38 are secured to and upstand from the upper rear marginal edge of the bottom wall 24. When the hydraulic ram 37 is substantially fully retracted, the scoop 22 is pivoted relative to the ejector plate 26 to a position wherein the ejector plate 26 is substantially adjacent the forward marginal edges of the side walls 23 and the bottom wall 24 of the scoop 22. When the hydraulic ram 37 is substantially fully extended, the scoop 22 is pivoted relative to the ejector plate to a position wherein the ejector plate 26 is substantially adjacent to the rear marginal edges of the Side walls 23 and the bottom wall 24 of the scoop 22. In this position the bucket substantially dcfines a simple bucket structure. Any position that the scoop 22 will assume relative to the boom 14 will be dependent not only upon the operated position of the hydraulic ram 37, but also the operated position of the hydraulic ram 31. Hydraulic fluid conduits, controls and pump means (not shown) of any type well known in the art are provided for operation of the hydraulic rams 16, 31 and 37.

Turning next to a detailed description of the operation of the instant invention in order that the cooperation between the various described elements may be more easily understood, reference is again made to the drawings. Firstly considering the digging function, with the hydraulic rams 31 and 37 retracted, and with the hydraulic rams 16 extended or retracted to the height at which the digging is desired, and which may include some distance below ground level, the tractor 10 may be moved to substantially place the ejector plate 26 against material to be dug. The hydraulic ram 37 may then be extended causing the scoop 22 to be pivoted about mounting means 27 w.th the cutting edge 25 being forced into the material. When the hydraulic ram 37 is extended to a position such as shown in Figure 3, or any other intermediate position, the scoop 22 and the ejector plate 26 will define a load retaining space for the excavated material. The angle at which the cutting edge 25 initially enters the material may be varied by an extension of hydraulic ram 31. lt should be noted that in performing this digging function, it is not necessary that the tractor 10 be moved during the actual digging operation. The wheels 12 may be braked providing maximum friction between the tires and the ground. It is apparent that this power crowding of the scoop into the material being dug will eliminate any clutch slippage in the transmission of the tractor and will reduce wear on the tires of the tractor. This construction is particularly well adapted to the digging of earth containing rocks or boulders, since the operator may, by alternate operations of the hydraulic rams 31 and 37, loosen and gradually work large rocks into the bucket. The digging function also be performed by initially extending hydraulic ram 37 and contracting hydraulic ram 31 so that the bucket assumesa position such as shown in Figure 3. By then moving the tractor forwardly to cause the cutting edge 25 to engage any material to be dug and by extending hydraulic rams 16, the bucket may be filled in a load scooping action.

After the bucket has been filled with the material, the hydraulic rams 16 may be extended to any degree for carrying the loaded bucket at any desired height relative to the ground. If the hydraulic rams 16 are extended .to raise the boom 14 to a position such as shown in Figure 4, the ejector plate 26, with the extension 28,

and the scoop 22 will dene an eicient load retaining fbucket at .all normal carrying levels.

.Considering the dumping function, both hydraulic rams 3l and 37 may be used to dump the load from the bucket. If the hydraulic ram 31 is extended from a position such as shown in Figure 4 to a position such as shown in Figure 5, it is apparent that the dumping reach of the bucket is increased without any decrease in the dumping height thereof. If the hydraulic ram 37 is contracted when the bucket is positioned such as shown in Figure 5, the scoop 22 will be pivoted rearwardly relative to the ejector plate 26 and the load will be ejected from the bucket. From a position such as shown in Figure 4, the hydraulic ram 37 may be contracted rst with a subsequent extension of hydraulic ram 31. Any combination of extensions and retraetions of the hydraulic rams 31 and 37 may be used for dumping under any special circumstances.

The subject loader may also be efficiently used in a bulldozing function by positioning the boom 14 and the bucket to a position such as shown in Figure l. The ejector plate 26 and the forward marginal edges of the scoop 22 will then present an ideal bulldozer blade configuration to the material to be worked.

The subject loader may also be efficiently used for the spreading of any material by gradually dumping the material as the tractor l@ is moved. This may be accomplished by retracting the hydraulic ram 37 or by extending the hydraulic ram 31, or by any combination of these operations from a position such as shown in Figure 3. Material heaped upon the ground may be spread by positioning the bucket such as shown in Figure 3. The underside of the bottom wall 24 of the scoop 22 will then present an ideal surface for spreading the material over the ground.

Back filling of excavations may be accurately accomplished withl the subject loader by moving the tractor l@ with a loaded bucket in a position such as shown in Figure 3 to the edge of an excavation. By then extending hydraulic ram 3l or contracting hydraulic ram 37, or by any combination of `both of these operations, the load from the bucket will be accurately dumped into the excavation.

It should be noted that the above described operations of the invention are merely to aid in an understanding of the cooperation of the various elements and is'not intended as a list of all of the earth-working uses to which the machine may be put.

Having described the invention, what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. In a tractor loader, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said tractor, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element, and an ejector plate disposed within and pivotally connected to said scoop element, the other end of said boom pivotally connected to said ejector plate, means pivotally connected between said boom and said ejector plate for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivot axis of said last mentioned means to said boom being xed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said scoop element and said boom for pivoting said scoop element relativeto said ejector plate.

2. In a tractor loader, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said tractor, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element, and an ejector plate disposed within and pivotally connected to said scoop element, the other end of said boom pivotally connected to said ejector plate, a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally connected between said boom and said ejector plate for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivot axis of hydraulic ram to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said scoop element and said boom for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

. 6 a scoop element and an ejector plate, said scoop element formed to have a pair of spaced apart side walls interconnected by a. curved bottom wall, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edges of said ejector plate between said side walls at the upper marginal edges thereof, said bottom wall having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said ejector plate when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector plate, means pivotally connecting the other end of said boom to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, means pivotally connected between said boom and the rear surface of said ejector plate above the pivotal mounting of the boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the ,pivot axis of said last mentioned means to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said boom and the rear marginal edge of said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relativeto said ejector plate.

4. In a tractor loader, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said tractor, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element and an ejector plate, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges thereof, means pivotally connecting the other end of said boom to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said boom intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement about an axis xed relative to said boom, the other end of said hydraulic ram pivotally mounted on the rear surface of said ejector plate between the upper and lower edges thereof for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said boom and said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

5. In a tractor loader, an L-shaped boom, the end of one of the legs of said boom being pivotally mountableV on said tractor so that said boom extends forwardly of said tractor with the other leg thereof depending from said one leg, a bucket comprising a substantially U- shaped scoop element and an ejector plate, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges thereof, means pivotally connecting the lower end of the depending leg of said L-shaped boom to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, means pivotally connected between said` boomV intermediate the ends thereof and said ejector plate above the pivotal connection of said boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivotal axis of said last mentioned means to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element Iof said tractor with the other leg thereof depending from said one leg, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element and an ejector plate, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges thereof, means pivotally connectingthe lower end of the depending leg of said L-shaped boom to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, a double-acting hydraulic ram pivotally connected between said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said ejector plate above the pivotal connection of said boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivotal axis of said hydraulic ram to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

7. In a tractor loader, a boom comprising duplicate portions disposable on each side of said tractor and pivotally mountable at one end'thereof on said tractor, a bracing member mounted between said duplicate portions of said boom intermediate the ends thereof and forwardly of said tractor when said boom is mounted thereon, a bucket comprising a substantially `U-shaped scoop element and an ejector plate disposed within and pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the other end of each portion of said boom pivotally connected to said ejector plate transversely thereof at the lower rear marginal edge thereof, means connected between said brace and said ejector plate for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivotal axis of said last mentioned means to said brace being fixed relative to said brace, and means pivotaly'connected between said brace and said scoop for pivoting said scoop relative to said ejector plate.

8. In a tractor loader, an L-shaped boom comprising duplicate portions disposable on each side of said tractor, the end of one of the legs of each portion of said boom being pivotally mountable on one side of said tractor so that each portion of said boom extends forwardly of said tractor with the other leg thereof depending from said one leg, a bucket comprising a scoop element and an ejector plate, said scoop element formed to have a pair of spaced apart side walls interconnected by a curved bottom wall, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate between said side walls at the upper marginal edges thereof, said bottom wall having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said ejector plate when said scoop element is pivoted relative to saidejector plate, means pivotally connecting the lower end of the depending leg of each portion of said I -shaped boom transversely of and'to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, means pivotally connected between each portion of said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said ejector plate above the pivotal connection of each portion of said boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivotal axis of said last mentioned means to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between each portion of said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

9. ln a tractor loader, an L-shaped boom comprising duplicate portions disposable on each side of said tractor, the end of one of the legs of each portion of said boom being pivotally mountable on one side of said tractor so that each portion of said boom extends forwardly of said tractor with the other leg thereof depend ing from said one leg, a bucket comprising a scoop element and an ejector plate, said scoop element formed to have spaced apart side walls interconnected by a curved bottom wall, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate between said side walls at the upper marginal edges thereof, said bottom wall having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said ejector plate when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector plate, means pivotally connecting the lower end of the depending leg of each portion of said L-shaped boom transversely of and to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, a double-acting hydraulic ram pivotally connected between each portion of said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said ejector plate above the pivotal connection of each portion of said boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, the pivotal axis of said hydraulic ram to said boom being fixed relative to said boom, and means pivotally connected between each portion of said boom intermediate the ends thereof and said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

10. In a tractor loader, an L-shaped boom comprising duplicate portions disposable on each side of said tractor, the end of one of the legs of each portion of said boom being pivotally mountable on one side of said tractor so that each portion of said boom extends forwardly of said tractor with the other leg thereof depending from said one leg, a brace element rigidly connected between said one leg of` each portion of said boom forwardly of said tractor, a bucket comprising a scoop element and an ejector plate, said scoop element formed to have a pair of spaced apart side walls interconnected by a curved bottom wall, means pivotally carrying the upper marginal edge of said ejector plate between said side walls at the upper marginal edges thereof, said bottom wall having a curvature substantially equal to that traced bythe lower marginal edge of said ejector plate when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector plate, means pivotally connecting the lower end of the depending leg of each portion of said Lshaped boom transversely of and to the lower rear surface of said ejector plate, a pair of double-acting hydraulic rams. means pivotally connecting the head end of each of said pair of hydraulic rams on said brace element in a spaced apart relationship to each other between each portion of said boom for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to said brace, means pivotally connecting the rod end of one of said pair of hydraulic rams to said ejector plate above the pivotal connection of each portion ot' said boom thereto for pivoting said ejector plate and said scoop element relative to said boom, and means pivotally connecting the rod end of the other of said pair of hydraulic rams to the rear marginal edge of said scoop element for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,990 Beyerstedt et al Oct. 18, 1955 

